The Gospel To effectively share with others we must know what we have in Christ. This lesson gives you 6 statements that clearly and concisely tells anyone the gospel story! Learn what the gospel is and what point s people need to know to find Christ. Points to ponder: What is your favorite/powerful love story? Have you ever thought of the gospel as the most powerful love story of all time? The Gospel Is The Ultimate Love Story! But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 God created is to be with him. Genesis 1-2 Our sin separates us from God Genesis 3 Sins cannot be removed by good deeds. Genesis 4-Malachi 4 Paying the price for sin Jesus died and rose again. Mathew-Luke Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life. Life with Jesus starts now and lasts forever. John Acts-Revelation
God Created Us to Be With Him -We are a special creation of God handcrafted by God Himself. then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. Gen. 2:7 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Gen. 2:21-22 -We were made in the image of God. Then God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness Gen. 1:26a -We were created to connect with God on the deepest, most intimate level. And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day Gen. 3:8 Our Sins Separate Us From God. -Sin is breaking God s commands, violating God s character and missing God s mark. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. Gen. 2:16-17 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Genesis 3:6
-When Adam and Eve sinned everything changed. -Their eyes were opened. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. Gen. 3:7 -Their doom was sealed. but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. Gen. 2:17 -Their descendants were condemned. Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned Rom. 5:12 Sins Cannot Be Removed By Good Deeds. -We can never be good enough. Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48 -Because the law is a mirror to show us our sin, not a ladder to get us to heaven. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. Romans 3:20 -Because even our good deeds come from selfish motives. all our righteous acts are like filthy rags. Isaiah 64:6
Paying The Price for Sin Jesus Died and Rose Again. -Jesus died in our place for our sins. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:5-6 Point to ponder: How should knowing all your sins are forgiven impact the way we live? -His resurrection demonstrated that He was who He claimed to be. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. Acts 1:3 Everyone Who Trusts In Him Alone Has Eternal Life. -We are saved by grace through faith, not by good works. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 -We are justified by God the Father through faith in Jesus alone. --Justification is a legal term that means declared righteous. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:21-24 (NIV, 1984)
-When we trust in Jesus as our Savior he exchanges our sin for his righteousness. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 Point to ponder: Why is it so hard for people to accept that we are saved by faith alone in Jesus and not by the good deeds that we do? Life with Jesus Starts Now and Lasts Forever. -Eternal life begins as soon as you believe in Jesus. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. John 6:47 -Eternal life is eternal. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father s hand. I and the Father are one. John 10:28-30 -Eternal life is not just about quantity. It s about quality. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. John 17:3
Now What? 1. Memorize the GOSPEL word for word. 2. Practice until you are able to explain it conversationally in any context. 3. Think of each point as a different chord in the GOSPEL love song. 4. Don t be ashamed to share it with anyone and everyone! I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes Romans 1:16